Six Springs Creek facts for kids

Six Springs Creek is a small stream in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It flows into Rattlesnake Creek. The creek is about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) long. It runs through Spring Brook Township.

The area of land that drains into the creek is about 2.95 square miles (7.6 km2). Wild trout live and reproduce naturally in Six Springs Creek. It is known as a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery. This means its waters are very clean and cold, perfect for fish like trout. However, the creek has faced some pollution issues.

Where Six Springs Creek Flows

Six Springs Creek starts in a valley. This valley is close to Interstate 380 in Spring Brook Township. The creek flows south for a short distance. It then crosses Pennsylvania Route 307.

After crossing the road, the creek turns southwest. It picks up water from two smaller streams on its left side. The creek then enters a valley. In this valley, it slowly turns towards the west-northwest. It passes through several small ponds. Three more small streams join it here. One comes from the left, and two from the right.

Finally, the creek turns southwest again. After a short journey, it meets Rattlesnake Creek. Six Springs Creek joins Rattlesnake Creek about 3.40 miles (5.47 km) upstream from where Rattlesnake Creek ends.

Water Quality of the Creek

The water in Six Springs Creek used to be clean enough to drink. But, water running off from nearby areas has caused pollution. In 1984, a report called Our Water: Legacy in Peril said the creek was getting dirty. It mentioned runoff from a car wash, a laundromat, and broken septic systems. Sometimes, treated rainwater from buildings (called stormwater) is also allowed to flow into the creek.

The water from Six Springs Creek eventually flows into the Nesbitt Reservoir. This reservoir is a large lake that holds drinking water. It is owned by a company called Pennsylvania Gas and Water. The company has made plans to improve how they clean the water from the reservoir.

Land and Rocks Around the Creek

The land around where Six Springs Creek meets Rattlesnake Creek is about 1,450 feet (440 m) above sea level. Where the creek begins, the land is higher. It is between 1,700 and 1,720 feet (520 and 520 m) above sea level.

The ground around Six Springs Creek is mostly made of a type of soil called Wisconsinan Till. This soil was left behind by glaciers long ago. There are also areas with solid bedrock. This bedrock is made of different kinds of rock. These include conglomeratic sandstone, sandstone, and shale. You can also find smaller areas of special glacial deposits. Some wetland areas, which are like marshy lands, are also present.

Creek's Drainage Area

The watershed of Six Springs Creek is the entire area of land where water flows into the creek. This area covers about 2.95 square miles (7.6 km2). Most of the watershed is in Spring Brook Township. A small part of it is in Covington Township. The creek is located entirely within the Moscow area on maps made by the United States Geological Survey.

There is a special area of very important wetlands in the watershed. These wetlands are considered to be of "Exceptional Value."

History of Six Springs Creek

Six Springs Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of names and locations of places in the United States.

In 2001, a plan for the Lackawanna River area suggested protecting Six Springs Creek. It recommended that Spring Brook Township include creek protection in their local building rules. A culvert is a pipe or tunnel that carries a road over a stream. A culvert for Swartz Valley Road was built over the creek before 2011. This culvert was damaged during Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. Plans were later made to replace it.

Creek's Wildlife

Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in Six Springs Creek. They can be found from the very beginning of the creek all the way to where it joins Rattlesnake Creek. The entire area that drains into the creek is special. It is called a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery. This means it has excellent, cold water conditions that are perfect for fish like trout to thrive.